But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business.
Parallel translations
- WEB But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise,
- KJV But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
- NKJV But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
- NASB But they paid no attention and went their separate ways, one to his own farm, another to his business,
- NLT But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The invited guests ignore the invitation, preferring their own business. Indifference to God's grace is itself a grave rejection.
Overview
Rather than openly hostile, these guests simply treat the king's invitation as unimportant compared to farm and trade. Their casual neglect illustrates how worldly preoccupations can lead people to spurn God's Kingdom. The parable warns that mere indifference to the gospel, not only active opposition, leaves one outside the feast.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Heb 2:3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
- Luke 14:18–20But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’
- 1 Jn 2:15–16Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- Matt 13:22The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
- 2 Tim 3:4traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
- Gen 25:34Then Jacob gave some bread and lentil stew to Esau, who ate and drank and then got up and went away. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
- Ps 106:24–25They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.
- Gen 19:14So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. “Get up,” he said. “Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
- Luke 17:26–32Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man:
- Acts 2:13But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”
- Prov 1:24–25Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
- Rom 8:6The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,
- Prov 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- 1 Tim 6:9–10Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
- Acts 24:25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”
- Matt 24:38–39For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark.
- Rom 2:4Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 22:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.